2015 Cain Concept “The Benchland” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot

Breathtakingly pure of fruit, it is extremely fresh and not at all overripe. Nonetheless, it still possesses that indefinable, ‘je ne sais quois’ complexity of a natural fermentation. A deep purple color presages an unusual association of black cherries and raspberries on the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky smooth and satisfyingly mouthfilling—again, without being at all cloying. There’s a lovely touch of bitterness to the finish, which is refreshingly and delightfully clean.